October 03, 2010

A special date


October 2, 2010

Happy 28th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

"Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised." -Song of Solomon 8:7

Praise God for a love that is unquenchable through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

We love you Mom and Dad! Thank-you for your commitment and faithfulness to each other and to the Lord. Your passion for each other gives us vision for our own marriages. May it grow with each year ahead!

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September 30, 2010

A smattering of photos . . .





My new family

On my last trip to IL, Nate's Mom and daughters put on a shower for us. It was a special time! Nate and I are sharing our story here. :-)


So fun to have more girls in my family!



Looking forward to the wedding in 9 days! Yay!!!

August 27, 2010

B-day at the park

June 30 marks a special day in our family! Jeremy turned 15 this year, and we celebrated by playing a game of disc golf with friends at Woodward Park in Fresno. I learned, *ahem* that I need to sharpen up on my throwing skills . . . (surprise, surprise!) while Jeremy came in third. How can that happen when we both played for the first time? Hmm . . .


He's gonna make it!

Everybody had their own throwing style. :-P


The only things needed to play disc in Fresno. :-) That water bottle is just as important as the discs!

Preppin' up to throw


Come play!

August 12, 2010

Flying



Free . . .




Simon recently discovered a popular "jump-off" spot for hang gliders about 30 minutes away from our house. One afternoon, the Littles, Mom, and I joined him and zoomed up the mountain to watch them take-off.




I wish you could have seen the look in Simon's eyes as he watched glider after glider take the plunge. (Literally!) Someday this dream may come true . . .








Mountain joy






Chatting with the owner of the spot. He was a devoted Christian and couldn't stop praising God. Isn't it a blessing when you find believers at the most unexpected places?






August 07, 2010

The Latest Lillyism

Tonight, as we were getting out some butter pecan ice cream, Lilly said "I want butter dot com".

Dad

June 27, 2010

My Man



“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” - Luke 1:49-50

Grandma Colleen sent these verses to me in a letter during the first days of my courtship with Nathan. This beautiful song of praise, composed by Mary, has echoed in my heart through the past months like a beautiful broken record . . . I can't do anything else but lift my hands in thankfulness and praise to the One who has done great things for me, an unworthy servant.



“Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgements are a great deep . . . How precious is Your lovingkindness O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” -Psalm 36:5-7

Please forgive the recent silence of the blog. Frankly, my heart has been too full to blog. :-) In the past months, God has led me to the man I have been praying for since girlhood. This man is heaven bound, a pilgrim on the earth. He is a man who loves Christ and His Gospel with an intensity that overflows. He is a man who stands forgiven, regenerated by God’s grace and mercy. He is a warrior for truth, active in the battle to spread and preserve Christ’s gospel. A man with compassion for the lost and a love for the unlovely. God surprised me by gradually winding my path closer and closer to his until soon, they will merge as one road, leading both of us, hand in hand, to heaven. We are engaged as of June 9th and look forward to a wedding in October!




“Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:1


I can’t wait to run this race with Nathan, confident in this promise: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” -Psalm 37 23-24



Sometimes when I pause, take my eyes off Christ, and look towards a veiled future that will probably hold many challenges and difficult experiences to walk through, I begin to fear, knowing my own sinful flesh and weaknesses. But as Paul wrote, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” -Hebrews 10:23. Those fears I have are doubting God’s faithfulness and ability to preserve and finish the work He has begun.
As those wiser and more mature than I have reminded me, it is the Gospel that makes two people able to become as one in every way that God intended, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It is the Gospel that cleanses us of our selfishness and sin, enabling us to love and serve each other with the love of Christ, which then leads to an intimacy deep and precious, the kind of intimacy God intended between a man and his bride. Knowing this, I am filled with hope and joyful expectancy. For it is not in my own strength but in God’s that I can rely. With this hope in our hearts, we can walk confidently together towards the heavenly lands, not blind to the realities, or dangers that we will encounter, but steadfast, relying with unshakeable trust, on the mercy of God.



Thank-you to you, my precious friends and family for all your love and support during this amazing season of my life. Come praise the Lord with me!


When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.
-C.S. Lewis


What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labour, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?
-George Eliot
Adam Bede

In marriage, each partner is to be an encourager rather than a critic, a forgiver rather than a collector of hurts, an enabler rather than a reformer.
-- H. Norman Wright and Gary J. Oliver

June 12, 2010

A Special Event

A few months ago, we were blessed to witness an extra special event . . . Daniel and Kendra's baptism! God has been alive in their hearts and lives, doing amazing things. His faithfulness is unbelievable. Praise Him!

The baptism was held in the Chenette's (Daniel and Kendra's pastor and family) backyard. Nathan was even able to be here! Yay! :-D



Kendra first . . .



Confessing and testifying of God's masterful work.




Hallelujah!



Daniel next . . .




Yay!!


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Before the baptism, we went to the beach, played in the water, and toured one of the mansions Daniel is working on.

Craftsman





Dancing in the streaming light


Mr. Toothless!


Kisses from Mommy



Sweet Emmy . . . I love you!






Is Grandma huggin' a tad too tight Livy? :-)